Flat-iron.



E. G. MGMEANS.

PLAT IRON.

APPLIoATIoN FILED MAR. 12, una.

1,099,264, Patented June 9,1914.

ERNEST C. MGMEANS, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO.

FLAT-IRON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1914.

Application 1ed March 12,1913. Serial No. 753,673.

T 0 all 'whom it may concern; I

Be it known that I, ERNEST C. McMnaNs, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flat-Irons; and I do declare the following to he a clear, full, and exact description of the invention, ittention being called to the drawing, which accompanies this application and. forms a part thereof.

This invention concerns flat-irons of the type used by tailors and pressers and also known as tailors goose.

The objects, cloth, clothing etc. to be pressed, are first dampenedyfor which purpose moisture is applied to them, either direct or more generally to a cloth spread over them and to which cloth, after dampened, the hot iron is applied. A wet sponge is generally used for the purpose, the same being rubbed over the surface which is to be moistened, the application being of an extent sufficient to cover the area over which the iron is to be passed and in a manner to obtain as near as possible an even distribution of the moisture over this area.

The invention consists of means constructed in a certain manner and so as to obtain by their ,use as near as is possible application of moisture to an extent to cover the area desired and of the saine even distribution as is obtained by means of a handmanipulated sponge. Water is used for the `.purpose and t-he arrangement is further such as to prevent the heat of the iron `from affecting the water-supply in a manner favoring formation of steam which is not desired.

\ In the following specification and part-icularly pointed out in the claim at the end thereof, will be found a full description of my invention, together with its manner of use, part-s and construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which;--

Figure l, shows my improved iron in side elevation. Fig. 2, is a top-view thereof and Fig. 3, is a front view of it. Fig. 4, is an enlarged vertical cross-section of a certain part and as indicated by a line shown at 4.-4 in Fig. 2.

In the drawing, A designates thehollow body of the iron and B is the handle thereof, held in place by two upright Shanks 7) provided on top of the body. Gas is generally used to furnish the heat, a suitable burner being provided inside of the hollow body which is supplied at a.

In order to obtain the desirable even dis tribution of moisture before referred to, the water which .is used for the purpose is applied iu forni of a spray which discharges from a nozzle C, provided in front of the iron. Furthermore the small openings c which constitute the nozzle are so arranged as to cause the jetsissuing from them to assume the form of a fan which spreads as it descends and is disposed in a plane transversely to the direction in which the iron is moved. At the surface to be pressed, this spray is at least as wide as the iron so that, as will be seen, moisture may be applied to an extent of surface equal to the path through which the iron travels. This nozzle is carried at the end of a feedpipe G which 'is supported above the body of the iron and terminates in a hose-nipple 7, permitting at tachment of a rubber-hose 8 which constitutes the supply-conduit and is in normally open communication with the feed-pipe. The supply may come from an elevated tank, or from a service-pipe to which the hose is attached. Pipe 6 may be connected to the iron in any suitable way, but so as to space it from the top of the iron so as to remove it sufficiently beyond the effect of heat to exclude the possibility of formation of steam. This object is obtained by leadu ing this pipe through the handle B as shown. By tting it into openings 10, provided in the upper ends of Shanks b-b, it serves as a means for securely holding the handle in position between the Shanks. A clip 9 is used to complete the connection to the iron.

Communication between nozzle C and supply-pipe 6, is controlled by means of a valve 11, fitted to a seat 12, provided on the inner end of the nozzle and contained in a valve-chamber formed by a housing 13. Supply-pipe 6 discharges into the valvechamber above the inner end of the nozzle and valve ll is fitted to this housing so as to be movable to and from its seat on the inner end of the nozzle. For such purpose a stem Ll is provided on the valve, which at its outer end is connected to a lever 15, pivoted at 16. The manipulating end of this lever is extended rearwardly and upwardly and terminates close to handle B, and between the ends thereof, as best shown llO in`Fig. 2. The valve-stem passes through a perforated plug 17 which closes the upper end of the valve-chamber A spring y18 is interposed between the plug and the valve to keep this latter normally seated. The

valve may be rubber-tipped to prevent leakage, and packing, washers and gasketsA may be applied in the usual manner whenever necessary for the same urpose. It will now be seen, that by manipulating lever. 15,

which may be done in a most convenient manner by the thumb of the hand which grasps the handle, moisture for dampening purposes may be applied in the proper manner whenever required.

The improvements may be considered inv In combination with a flat-iron comprising a body having means for applying heat thereto and provided 'with spaced handle- Shanks extending upwardly above the body which have below their upper ends alined these openings and extending lengthwise of the iron between the shanks and beyond' openings, a watevsupply pipe supported in f said openings therein, a handle mounted l upon this pipe between the Shanks and held in place thereby,v a hose-nipple at the rear end of the pipe to permit connection withv a source of water-supply, a discharge-nozzle at the front end of the same, mounted so as to discharge downwardlyl and means to con-l trol this dischargefrom the nozzle. y

Intestimony whereof I hereunto alix my signature'in the presence of two `Wit1iesses.'

ERNEST C. MCMEANS.

Witnesses C. SPENGEL,' T. Ln BEAU. 

